The truth behind a smile
Typically, when people discuss war and fighting, little attention is given to the children and families living within the war zone. Often times, American’s fail to recognize the struggles that these people go through and the compromises that they make. Just imagine raising and supporting a family in the midst of violence. At the same time, sometimes, fathers and brothers are not around because they are fighting. As I read the article Children in a War Zone, this issue became more apparent to me. The article argues that life for children living in the middle of war and conflict is not all that bad. The article states,
“Using a combination of verbal and nonverbal communication, many times Soldiers are able to interact with the children, and both the Soldiers and children walk away with a friendly smile.
‘I do not believe these kids know any different environment to live in. They have been brought up hearing the explosions, gun fire and emergency service sirens,’ said Taulman.”
The article argues that children living in the war zone are not dramatically effected by the violence in their community. Having grown up in a war zone, these children see war as a normal part of their lives.
I think this is a very radical statement to make. As I read this article I thought back to a Holocaust documentary by Alfred Hitchcock. At the beginning of the documentary, Hitchcock shows men, women, and children at the concentration camp smiling and waving. When looking at this image one may infer that these people were well taken care of and content with their situation. Well, most people know better than this. Despite what this one image portrays, life in the concentration camps were horrible beyond explanation. Just because on the the surface things seemed fine, did not mean that they actually were.
This video ties back to the article about children living in the war zone. The article infers that despite the violence children are happy and excited that American soldiers are there. I mean they are always smiling so they must be happy… right? With all due respect, I feel the need to challenge this idea. Just think about it. These children live in a community where war and violence consume their homes and neighborhoods. To hear gun fires and bombs while in school or eating dinner is nothing unusual. At the same time, their fathers and brothers are away fighting in this violence. They see first hand the enviroment that they family members are fighting in. Therefore, to suggest that these children are happy and content with the violence in their community is absurd. Just like in the Holocaust video, a smile does not always mean a smile. To understand this means to understand what happens behind the scenes. Therefore, despite what is shown on the surface, there is nothing comforting about having war in ones backyard.
Children in a War Zone
by: Stg Liesl Marelli
14, October, 2009
Krystal said,
October 23, 2009 at 8:53 pm
I can not believe this article! Just because a child is used to living in a war zone doesn’t mean it doesn’t affect them. That’s like claiming a child living in an abusive home is not affected. Just because the affects might not be outwardly apparent doesn’t mean that they aren’t affected. If they constantly see violence around them they are most likely to continue the cycle of violence when they are adults. The soldiers might bring a smile to the children but what happens when they aren’t around? They might enjoy interacting with the soldiers but that doesn’t make up for the violence that surrounds them. I agree, just because someone is smiling doesn’t necessary mean that they are happy. I liked how you related it to the Holocaust. Like many tragic events throughout history things can be misperceived by the images we see when in reality the truth is much different. If we see children behind a barb wired fence who are smiling, can we assume that they are happy? NO! I don’t think anyone would feel comfortable in a war zone. I know if the war was happening in my backyard, I wouldn’t be smiling. It’s easier for people to make comments like the ones in the article when it’s not affecting their children or happening in their backyard.
waldronl said,
October 25, 2009 at 1:46 am
That was a pretty bold article to say the least. It seems a little ludicrous for the author to make some of those statements. War, past and present, seems to have an effect on adults and children. Look at the 2 women in the other documentary, they were young children at that time and they were definitely effected by the holocaust. Even Valdek had certain tendencies and mannerisms in his later years due to the holocaust.
Regardless of whether our families are in a violent situation or not, I think we have all put on a smile or a brave face at one time or another. That doesn’t necessarily mean we are always happy, and I agree that it is wrong to assum that.
khuss said,
October 29, 2009 at 4:57 pm
I think the article you cited has confused accepting living in a war zone with being content with it. I cannot even begin to imagine what it would be like to grow up in an environment where danger was a constant, because having grown up in West Michigan I’ve had the luxury of feeling safe. I agree with you that it is completely absurd for the author of the article to assume that because an interaction between two people, the child and soldier, ends in “happy smile” means that the children are unaffected by their violent environment. The only way to really see how the children are dealing with live in that environment is to see how they’ve internalized it once they’re adults. And if someone can manage to smile while living in region consumed with war I think it says one of two things about that person. They either have extremely strong character to be able to preserve some happiness amongst the violence and danger or that they have been so enveloped by the violence and danger that they have become numb to it, or possibly a combination of the two. In either of these scenarios, the person or child is still affected.
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